The Rotary Club of
Ojai
 

Ojai Rotary Reminder Newsletter
August 2nd, 2019

Randy Roth, Editor

August is Membership and Extensions Month
Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. 
Our 1.2 million-member organization started with the vision of one man—Paul P. Harris. The Chicago attorney formed one of the world’s first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on 23 February 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.
 
In the beginning...
 
On a warm and sunny afternoon, President Cheree gaveled the club to order; she then asked Michael Scar to lead the Flag salute, and Dave Watson to give the invocation.  While lunch was being served, Cheree thanked all the people who helped make the meeting a success, including especially Ginger, without whom the meeting would be grim indeed.
 
We had one visiting Rotarian, Randy Strong, President of the Westlake Sunrise club, and today’s speaker.  We had three additional guests:  Gil Webber, Chester Jaquille and James Leech. 
 
Announcements
 
Bob Daddi is resigning from the club after 25 years of service
 
Cheree will be leading the balloon parade at the Aug. 14 Concert in the Park
 
5th Friday celebration will be a spaghetti western at Bocali’s
 
There will be a memorial for Charlie Thompson on August 3 at Ojai Presbyterian Church
 
Dave Watson gave an historical overview of the “Rotarian of the Month” award, and read a moving account of “Who packs your parachute”?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kay Bliss is the deserved recipient of this month’s “Rotarian of Action Award”. For more information on this prestigious award, click here.
 
Sandy Buechley is the deserved recipient of this month’s “Parachute Rotarian of the month” for her diligent and selfless efforts to keep our club’s finances in order.
 
 
Rotary Humor
 
 
Fining by Matt Clements
 
In an attempt to give our club a veneer of culture, Matt chose as his topic American poetry and poets. Matt would read a section of a poem and ask who was the author and what was the title. While Matt’s intent was noble, the results were disappointing:  not a single one of Matt’s recitations generated a spark of recognition.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Program:  Randy Strong on Membership
 
Randy Strong, President of the Westlake Sunrise Club, gave a sobering talk on Rotary Membership, and the lack of clear identity of Rotary among the general public.  Here are some of the more salient points of Randy’s talk:
  1. Worldwide membership has plateaued at 1.2 Million; with US membership actually dropping.
  2. Based on interviews Randy conducted and filmed at a Rotarian Chili cook-off, there are many misperceptions about what Rotary is and what Rotarians do.
  3. It seems that Rotary sends out too many messages about our identity.
  4. He suggests that the Rotary message be boiled down to:
    • Teams of Men and Women
    • Making the world a better place
    • Having fun and fellowship
 
  1. Randy wants to include the “4-way test” and “Service above Self”
 
Randy then showed a 2.5 minute You Tube video which provides a fresh and appealing vision of Rotary Activities and People. 
 
 
 
 

You are invited to visit us at an upcoming meeting.

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